Wolf population is multiplying rapidly, says Swiss environment minister
The environment minister revealed that 32 wolf packs had been identified in the country, for a total of over 300 wolves.
Keystone / Dominic Favre
Wolves are multiplying exponentially in Switzerland, so much so that in recent times their population has increased by about 30% each year. Without intervention, it will continue to grow to a greater extent, says environment minister Albert Rösti.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA
Rösti was in parliament on Monday to respond to three questions from Christian Democrats – Piero Marchesi, Monika Rüegger and Michael Graber – who were concerned about the rapid increase in packs and wolves in Switzerland.
Rösti, citing the latest available data on the subject, replied that 32 wolf packs had been identified in the country. In canton Valais alone there are ten packs and a total of 70 predators.
But according to the environment minister, what is most worrying is the fact that in 2019 the number of wolves was less than 100; in 2020 it was just over 100; a year later it had reached almost 150; last year it was around 240; and today it is over 300.
That is why the federal govenrment launched a fast-track consultation, which has not yet been concluded. In parliament, Rösti recalled that the government, at the request of the cantons, can authorise the preventive culling of these animals, but only if the wolf packs pose a threat.
The government’s objective, he added, is to protect the population and livestock and, at the same time, to preserve the wolf species. Rösti again emphasised that he had a lot of sympathy for the representatives of agriculture, who would like to see a rapid response after more than 1,500 fatal attacks on sheep, goats, cows, calves, horses, and other livestock.
But at the same time, said the minister, “my task is to ensure the preservation of the species [of wolves], based on the Bern Convention”.
This news story has been written and carefully fact-checked by an external editorial team. At SWI swissinfo.ch we select the most relevant news for an international audience and use automatic translation tools such as DeepL to translate it into English. Providing you with automatically translated news gives us the time to write more in-depth articles. You can find them here.
If you want to know more about how we work, have a look here, and if you have feedback on this news story please write to english@swissinfo.ch.
External Content
Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Almost finished… We need to confirm your email address. To complete the subscription process, please click the link in the email we just sent you.
Most Read Swiss Abroad
More
Why cars still reign supreme in ‘rail-nation’ Switzerland
Is artificial intelligence an advantage or a disadvantage for workers?
What is your experience with AI at work? Have you already used it? Has it helped you work better? Or has it caused you more stress, more work or caused you to lose your job? Tell us about your experiences!
Swiss price watchdog slams excessive prices for generic medicines
This content was published on
The cheapest generic medicines available in Switzerland are more than twice as expensive as in other countries, according to a study by the Swiss price watchdog.
Nature should not figure in net zero calculations: academic study
This content was published on
The natural removal of CO2 from the atmosphere by forests or oceans should not be included in the net-zero balance of climate protection measures, argue researchers.
This content was published on
None of the 15 major Swiss retail banks is meeting international climate and biodiversity targets, according to a ranking by WWF Switzerland.
This content was published on
Nestlé's new CEO Laurent Freixe, has presented plans for the future of the world's largest food company, after his first few weeks in office.
Swiss foreign minister calls on Moscow to end Ukraine war
This content was published on
It's high time Moscow ended its war against Ukraine, Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis tells the UN Security Council.
This content was published on
The only alternative to the UN Palestinian agency’s work in Gaza is to allow Israel to run services there, Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, told reporters in Geneva on Monday.
Study reveals food culture differences between Switzerland and neighbours
This content was published on
Three-quarters of Swiss people consider eating to be a pleasurable, social activity, a new survey reveals. Healthy eating, however, plays a much less important role, it found.
This content was published on
In the past 25 years, 128 wolves have been found dead in Switzerland. Some 54 were legally shot, 38 died in traffic collisions and 11 were poached.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.